Book Review: The Art of Community — Seven Principles for Creating Places Where People Belong

 

We use the word community frequently. We talk about community development, community organizations, community events, and community engagement. We encourage people to get involved in their communities and celebrate the importance of community connections.

But what exactly makes a community? Is it geography? Shared interests? Common experiences? Membership in an organization? Or is it something deeper?

Those are some of the questions explored in Charles H. Vogl's The Art of Community: 7 Principles for Belonging.

Vogl argues that meaningful communities are not simply collections of people who happen to occupy the same space. They are groups of individuals connected through shared experiences, traditions, values, and a sense of belonging.

More importantly, he suggests that strong communities can be developed intentionally.

That idea immediately caught my attention.

Much of my work through University of Missouri Extension and Missouri Good Neighbor Week focuses on helping people move beyond living near one another toward actually knowing and caring for one another.

I often remind people that proximity does not automatically create community. Relationships do.

Vogl's book provides a framework for understanding how those relationships can develop into something more enduring.

It also raises some important questions about the difference between building a community and simply organizing activities.

Seven Principles That Help Communities Thrive

The heart of the book is Vogl's identification of seven principles that contribute to strong, lasting communities.

These principles are drawn from traditions, organizations, and groups that have successfully created shared identity and belonging.

While the book is not written specifically for neighborhoods, I found several of its ideas particularly relevant to neighboring.

1. Boundaries: Knowing What Brings Us Together

Vogl begins with the principle of boundaries.

Communities need some understanding of what connects their members and distinguishes the group from the larger world.

For a professional organization, that boundary might be a shared occupation. For a faith community, it might be common beliefs. For a civic organization, it could be a shared mission.

Neighborhoods are different.

Our boundaries are often geographic. We live on the same street, in the same subdivision, or within the same neighborhood.

But geography alone does not create belonging.

A neighborhood becomes a community when residents begin to see themselves as connected to one another.

They recognize that they share more than a location. They share an interest in the wellbeing of the place they call home.

There is an important caution here, however.

Boundaries that help define a voluntary organization can also create exclusion when applied carelessly to neighborhoods.

We do not choose our neighbors based on their backgrounds, beliefs, incomes, or interests.

That means a healthy neighborhood must make room for people who are different from one another.

The goal of neighboring should be to expand the circle of belonging, not draw boundaries that keep people out.

2. Initiation: Welcoming People Into Community

Vogl's second principle is initiation.

The word may sound formal, but the idea is straightforward: people need ways to move from being outsiders to becoming participants.

Think about what happens when someone moves into a neighborhood.

They may receive a wave from someone across the street. Perhaps they get a welcome packet from a homeowners association.

But does anyone actually introduce themselves?

Does someone learn their name?

Are they invited to participate in a neighborhood activity?

Do they know whom to contact if they have questions or need help?

These small actions can make an enormous difference.

One of the practices I teach through the Engaged Neighbor Program is Include and Encourage. It emphasizes helping people feel noticed, welcomed, and valued.

Vogl's initiation principle reinforces that practice.

A neighborhood does not need an elaborate ceremony to welcome someone. Sometimes a conversation at the mailbox, a handwritten note, or an invitation to sit together at a gathering is enough.

The important thing is intentionality.

Belonging often begins when someone takes the initiative to say, "There is a place for you here."

3. Rituals: The Power of Doing Things Together Repeatedly

Of the seven principles, rituals may be one of the most useful for neighborhood development.

Vogl uses the term to describe recurring practices that reinforce a community's identity and relationships.

We often think of rituals as religious ceremonies or formal traditions.

But neighborhoods have rituals, too.

An annual block party can become a ritual.

So can a monthly neighborhood breakfast, a weekly walking group, a regular coffee gathering, or a tradition of welcoming new residents.

What makes these activities powerful is repetition.

When people gather only once, they may enjoy themselves without developing lasting relationships.

When they gather repeatedly, something different happens.

People begin recognizing faces, remembering names, and continuing conversations from previous encounters.

Over time, shared experiences create familiarity and trust.

This helps explain why I encourage recurring neighborhood gatherings rather than relying entirely on one-time events.

The first gathering introduces people.

The second helps them remember one another.

By the third or fourth, relationships may begin taking shape.

Community grows through repeated opportunities for meaningful interaction.

4. Temple: Why Shared Gathering Places Matter

Vogl's fourth principle is the temple.

He is not suggesting that every community needs a religious building. Rather, he is describing the importance of places where members gather and experience their shared identity.

This principle connects directly with two other books I recommend: Ray Oldenburg's The Great Good Place and Eric Klinenberg's Palaces for the People.

Oldenburg emphasizes the importance of informal gathering places, often called third places.

Klinenberg explains how libraries, parks, schools, and other shared spaces provide social infrastructure that supports relationships.

Vogl adds another dimension: gathering places can become meaningful symbols of community identity.

For neighborhoods, these places do not have to be expensive or elaborate.

A driveway can become a gathering place.

So can a front porch, an apartment clubhouse, a neighborhood park, a community garden, or a table placed in someone's front yard.

What matters is not simply the physical space but what happens there.

People gather. Conversations begin. Stories are shared. Relationships develop.

And eventually, the place itself becomes associated with friendship and belonging.

I would add one qualification to Vogl's principle.

A place does not create community simply because it exists. People must use it in ways that encourage connection.

A beautiful neighborhood park can remain socially empty. A modest folding table in a driveway can become the center of meaningful relationships.

The difference is intentional interaction.

5. Stories: Remembering Who We Are

One of the most compelling ideas in the book is the importance of stories.

Communities develop a shared identity through the stories they tell about themselves.

Those stories communicate what the group values, what it has experienced, and what kind of community its members hope to become.

This principle has particular relevance to Missouri Good Neighbor Week.

Each year, we encourage people to report acts of neighboring and share stories about neighbors helping neighbors.

Some stories involve extraordinary kindness during difficult circumstances.

Others describe ordinary interactions: helping with yard work, delivering a meal, checking on an older resident, welcoming a newcomer, or organizing a neighborhood gathering.

Why do these stories matter?

Because they demonstrate what neighboring looks like.

They provide examples that others can imitate.

They also communicate an important message: kindness, connection, and mutual care are part of the identity we want our neighborhoods to develop.

Stories can become a form of community encouragement.

When people hear about a neighbor who organized a gathering or helped someone in need, they may begin imagining what they could do themselves.

The stories we tell help shape the kind of communities we become.

6. Symbols: Making Belonging Visible

Vogl's sixth principle focuses on symbols.

Communities often develop recognizable objects, images, language, or traditions that represent their shared identity.

A neighborhood sign, community logo, T-shirt, garden, mural, or annual celebration can become a symbol of belonging.

These things may seem superficial, but they can serve an important purpose.

They remind people that they are part of something larger than themselves.

Consider a neighborhood that organizes an annual gathering and creates a simple banner for the occasion.

Over time, that banner may represent years of shared experiences, friendships, and community memories.

Or consider a neighborhood art project where residents work together to create something visible.

The finished artwork is more than decoration.

It becomes a reminder of what residents accomplished together.

I see this principle reflected in Missouri Good Neighbor Week as well.

The celebration provides a common identity and a recognizable opportunity for residents, organizations, businesses, and communities to participate in something positive.

Still, symbols have their limits.

A neighborhood can have a wonderful logo and attractive signage without having strong relationships.

Symbols should reflect genuine community connections, not substitute for them.

7. Inner Rings: Developing Deeper Participation and Leadership

The final principle involves what Vogl calls inner rings.

In many communities, people participate at different levels.

Some are newcomers. Others attend occasionally. Some become regular participants. Still others assume responsibility for organizing activities, welcoming members, or leading the organization.

Vogl recognizes that communities often develop these different levels of participation naturally.

For neighborhood associations, this principle offers an important lesson about leadership development.

Too many neighborhood organizations depend on a small group of dedicated volunteers who handle nearly every responsibility.

Eventually, those volunteers become exhausted or decide to step away.

If no one else has been encouraged to participate, the organization may struggle to survive.

A healthier approach is to create opportunities for people to become involved gradually.

Someone might begin by attending a neighborhood picnic.

Later, they help set up tables.

The following year, they assist with planning.

Eventually, they may become comfortable organizing an activity or serving in a leadership position.

This process does more than fill volunteer positions.

It develops confidence, relationships, and a greater sense of ownership.

However, the idea of inner rings also deserves caution.

Neighborhoods should not become places where a small group of insiders controls everything while other residents remain outsiders.

The healthiest neighborhood organizations continually invite more people into participation and responsibility.

Leadership should create opportunities for others to belong and contribute, not become a privilege reserved for a select few.

What This Book Gets Right About Community

The greatest strength of The Art of Community is its recognition that belonging requires more than simply bringing people together.

We can organize events without creating relationships.

We can establish organizations without developing trust.

We can create shared spaces without helping people feel welcome.

And we can recruit members without giving them meaningful opportunities to participate.

Vogl challenges readers to think more deeply about the experiences and practices that turn a collection of individuals into a genuine community.

I appreciate his emphasis on intentionality.

That is also central to my approach to neighboring.

I encourage people to practice five behaviors: See and Be Seen, Listen and Learn, Share and Care, Gather and Grow, and Include and Encourage.

These are not complicated concepts.

But they require deliberate action.

We must choose to introduce ourselves, remember names, listen to others, offer help, extend invitations, and make room for people to participate.

Vogl's principles provide a useful organizational framework for many of those same behaviors.

Where I Think the Book Falls Short

Despite my enthusiasm for the book, I give it four stars rather than five.

My primary reservation is that Vogl's framework is especially well suited to communities formed around shared interests, values, missions, or identities.

That includes churches, professional organizations, civic groups, clubs, and other voluntary associations.

Geographic neighborhoods are different. People do not necessarily share beliefs, lifestyles, schedules, or personal interests simply because they live near one another.

In fact, one of the greatest opportunities in neighboring is learning to develop relationships with people who are different from us.

That makes the principles of boundaries and inner rings more complicated.

Applied thoughtfully, they can strengthen identity and participation.

Applied carelessly, they can reinforce exclusivity.

I would also caution against assuming that all seven principles must be formally developed for a community to thrive.

Sometimes the most meaningful neighborhood connections begin without any organizational structure.

Two neighbors start walking together.

A resident checks on someone after a storm.

A family invites the people next door for dinner.

Those simple relationships may eventually produce traditions, shared identity, and greater participation.

But they begin with people, not a framework.

For that reason, I see Vogl's book as a valuable guide rather than a formula that guarantees belonging.

Five Lessons for Neighborhood Leaders

For anyone involved in neighborhood associations, community development, or efforts to strengthen social connection, I would suggest five practical lessons from this book.

First, welcome people intentionally. Do not assume newcomers will naturally find their place. Make introductions, extend invitations, and help residents feel included.

Second, create recurring opportunities for interaction. A regular gathering, even a small one, can be more effective for relationship development than an occasional large event.

Third, make use of existing gathering spaces. Look for places where people can connect without significant expense or complicated planning.

Fourth, collect and share neighborhood stories. Celebrate examples of kindness, cooperation, hospitality, and mutual support. Those stories help establish positive community expectations.

Fifth, encourage more people to participate and lead. Share responsibility, invite new volunteers, and help residents discover ways to contribute.

These five lessons are practical enough to apply in almost any neighborhood.

And none requires a large budget.

They require attention, consistency, and a willingness to invest in relationships.

Why This Matters for Missouri Good Neighbor Week

One of the reasons I find The Art of Community useful is that it helps explain why celebrations such as Missouri Good Neighbor Week can matter beyond the individual activities they generate.

An act of neighboring may begin as a simple expression of kindness.

But when communities share those stories, develop traditions around neighboring, invite others to participate, and celebrate their shared accomplishments, something larger can emerge.

Neighboring becomes part of the community's identity.

A neighborhood that gathers every year may begin developing its own traditions.

A community that celebrates engaged neighbors communicates what it values.

A business that creates a welcoming gathering place can become part of the neighborhood's social fabric.

And residents who begin as occasional participants may eventually become the people who organize and sustain future activities.

These are examples of the principles Vogl describes.

The challenge is to ensure that our efforts produce more than participation numbers or successful events.

We want lasting relationships.

We want residents who feel they belong.

And we want communities where people are more willing to notice, include, and care for one another.

Final Thoughts: Belonging Is Built Through Intentional Practices

The title The Art of Community is appropriate.

Building community is not simply a technical process.

It requires understanding people, recognizing their need for belonging, and creating opportunities for meaningful relationships.

It also requires patience.

Trust does not develop overnight.

Traditions take time to establish.

New leaders need encouragement.

And people who have felt excluded may need repeated invitations before they feel comfortable participating.

Vogl provides a helpful framework for understanding these processes.

His seven principles remind us that communities are strengthened through shared identity, meaningful experiences, recurring traditions, welcoming practices, and opportunities for participation.

But I would add one final observation.

Community is not ultimately about boundaries, rituals, symbols, or gathering places. It is about people.

Those other things matter because they can help people develop relationships.

A neighborhood becomes stronger when residents know one another, trust one another, and recognize that they share responsibility for the wellbeing of the place they call home.

That is the kind of community I want to encourage.

And that is why I recommend Charles H. Vogl's The Art of Community to neighborhood leaders, Extension professionals, civic organizations, and anyone interested in creating places where people genuinely belong.

WRITTEN BY

David L. Burton

For more information, visit the Engaged Neighbor website. Take our pledge and become part of a movement! Or subscribe to our newsletter. Access some of the research documents written by David Burton, the author of this blog. Or better yet, purchase one of his books off Amazon. Contact David L. Burton via email at dburton541@yahoo.